More child abuse awareness can help prevent it (Guest essay)

On the Wednesday before Father's Day, 7-year-old Billy Travis passed away after a long struggle from injuries inflicted on him by his stepmother when Billy was just 4.

He died in the arms of his loving adoptive mother Kim Travis who, with her husband Bob Travis, graciously welcomed Billy into their home. They made him apart of their family in an already full house of four biological children and five adopted children. Bob and Kim loved Billy as one of their own.

The Travis family is determined to do what they can protect other children in Pennsylvania from receiving the same fate as Billy. That is why they are promoting Blue Ribbons 4 Justice.

This organization's three main objectives are to support the establishment of a children's advocacy center in Franklin County, to increase public awareness about child abuse, and to change child abuse laws.

A children's advocacy center would be an amazing benefit to abused children by providing a one-stop child friendly facility. Currently these children are required to travel between different facilities for various examinations and interviews in places set up for adults. The children's advocacy center will provide one place specifically designed for children and staffed with professionals who are specifically trained to interact with children.

Furthermore this new facility will allow them to give their testimony once in a safe environment to be recorded as admissible evidence in a court of law.

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Acts of child abuse and child neglect often go unnoticed. It is not a topic that is usually discussed. Billy Travis is highlighted at the moment because of the injuries he suffered back in 2011 but few people can pinpoint any other particular cases of abuse or neglect.

However, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, there were 54 substantiated reports of child abuse in Franklin County that same year. The increasing of public awareness about this issue will help to bring about widespread action toward addressing it.

Kim Travis summed up the final aspect of changing child abuse laws when she told me; "There were 21 reports of abuse with Travis before he was taken out of that home." The goal is to have greater accountability within governing agencies with regard to following up on reports of abuse and neglect.

For one year I am wearing a blue ribbon on my suit with Billy's name, birth date, and death date as a memorial of him as conversation starter to tell others about Blue Ribbons 4 Justice. This letter is a call to action that donations are made to this organization in honor of Billy Travis. My wife & I have done so and we encourage you to do the same.

You can mail your contributions to Blue Ribbons 4 Justice, P.O. Box 452, Greencastle, PA 17225. Any amount that you can give would be greatly appreciated by the Travis Family in honor of their beloved son and brother.